[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 193 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51741-51742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25361]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-103; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1993 Pontiac Trans Sport Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible
for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1993 Pontiac Trans Sport multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) are
eligible for importation.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that a 1993
Pontiac Trans Sport manufactured for the German market that was not
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards is eligible for importation into the United
States because (1) It is substantially similar to a vehicle that was
originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that was
certified by its manufacturer as complying with the safety standards,
and (2) it is capable of being readily altered to conform to the
standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is November 4,
1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Section, Room 5109, National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW.,
Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that was not
originally manufactured to conform to all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards shall be refused admission into the United
States unless NHTSA has decided that the motor vehicle is substantially
similar to a motor vehicle originally manufactured for importation into
and sale in the United States, certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and of
the same model year as the model of the motor vehicle to be compared,
and is capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Petitions for eligibility decisions may be submitted by either
manufacturers or importers who have registered with NHTSA pursuant to
49 CFR Part 592. As specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA publishes notice
in the Federal Register of each petition that it receives, and affords
interested persons an opportunity to comment on the petition. At the
close of the comment period, NHTSA decides, on the basis of the
petition and any comments that it has received, whether the vehicle is
eligible for importation. The agency then publishes this decision in
the Federal Register.
[[Page 51742]]
Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'')
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether a
1993 Pontiac Trans Sport MPV manufactured for the German market is
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicle which
Champagne believes is substantially similar is the 1993 Pontiac Trans
Sport that was manufactured for sale in the United States and certified
by its manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1993 Pontiac Trans Sport to its U.S. certified counterpart,
and found the two vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to
compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1993 Pontiac Trans Sport, as
originally manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety
standards in the same manner as its U.S. certified counterpart, or is
capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified
1993 Pontiac Trans Sport is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart
with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift
Lever Sequence . . ., 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104
Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106
Brake Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood
Latch Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power-
Operated Window Systems, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant
Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 204 Steering
Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks
and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 208 Occupant Crash
Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly
Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219
Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302
Flammability of Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on the non-
U.S. certified 1993 Pontiac Trans Sport comply with the Bumper Standard
found in 49 CFR Part 581.
Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) substitution of a lens
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with an ECE symbol on the brake failure
indicator lamp; (b) labeling of the odometer to reflect its calibration
in kilometers per hour.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: installation of U.S.-model front and rear sidemarker/
reflector assemblies.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
The petitioner also states that a certification label must be
affixed to the vehicle to meet the requirements of 49 CFR Part 565.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC
20590. It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
All comments received before the close of business on the closing
date indicated above will be considered, and will be available for
examination in the docket at the above address both before and after
that date. To the extent possible, comments filed after the closing
date will also be considered. Notice of final action on the petition
will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority
indicated below. If NHTSA decides that non-U.S. certified 1993 Pontiac
Trans Sport MPVs are eligible for importation into the United States,
that decision will be made with respect to all such vehicles, and not
be limited to those manufactured for the German market.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8;
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.
Issued on: September 30, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-25361 Filed 10-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
